Christmas Blessings...

As always, we are blessed beyond measure this Christmas Season. We enjoyed lots of fun times with family and friends this year and made memories that add sweetness to our hearts. Ailee and I got to go to her Christmas Singing around the tree at preschool and celebrate a birthday party for Jesus with her class before the sickness officially started in our home. After we overcame the majority of our illness, we headed off to the England's for a little Christmas cheer. You girls got lots of exciting gifts and even got to eat turkey this time too! You were so excited!

Then, we headed to Mimi and Granddaddy's house to have Christmas Eve dinner with the whole gang. Then, as always, the cousins all spent the night together in the nest while waiting on Santa to arrive. After most of the family rushed home, you girls hit the lawn to spread out your reindeer food.
This year, Mimi decorated the nest with snowflakes, And...it worked! While sleeping under the snowflakes hanging from the ceiling, the sky filled with lot s of snow that it would dump on us for Christmas morning! It was so amazing! Mimi may have to do this each year from now on!
I always love the photos waiting with Granddaddy until us mommy and daddies get the cameras ready for you to rush down to see what Santa left on his stop!
Ailee, once again, you got the Christmas dress you designed and begged Santa to bring. This year, it was to be red with fur. How beautiful!

Adelynn, all you wanted was "gum" (code word for candy) and another Baby Huggims! But you seemed to like purse and sunglasses too.

Anna Grace, you wanted a voilin this year and Mommy cannot wait for you to learn to play! I know you will make such beautiful music one day soon. Santa also left you each a pefectly sized old timey school desk to use while doing homework and playing school which is a favorite pasttime around here. Cybil and Adelynn couldn't stay out of the candy while sharing the school desk seat together most of the morning.

And for the BIG surprise...

Mimi and Granddaddy are taking us all on the cruise of a lifetime!!! Can you believe it? We are going aboard the DISNEY DREAM!

You all got a little suitcase with a ticket and pandora cruise ship inside! Mimi also surprised you with your own minnie beach towels she made!

WHITE CHRISTMAS!!!! I was so surprised it was actually sticking and to have 3-4 inches was just amazing! What a beautiful Christmas gift from our Father this year!
After breakfast with the whole Penland/Duncan crew, there was just enough snow to make some pretty great snowballs. Even the one Daddy put down Doodah's pjs was the perfect size! Sorry, HopPop!
Even a few days later when we got back to our new home, it was still covered in white!

MERRY CHRISTMAS 2010

Tis the Season...

The England Family always has a wonderful Christmas party each year a couple of weeks into December. This year we had a special guest...Santa himself. AG said this was definitely the "real" Santa~ You were all very impressed. Adelynn, your love for him amazed me. You are such a sweet-hearted little girl.

When he called your name, you ran with arms open wide to him!
Then, held your sweet hands so precious as he loved on you and mommy snapped some priceless shots.

Telling Secrets with the Big Man...

Grammy and Poppa and their crew of grands!

Tis also the season for...
SICKNESS! and in this house, we have it rough this year! Adelynn, is the only one free of flu-like symptons so far. The rest of us have been battling fever, sore throat, aches, dizziness, coughs, stomach issues, and you name it for 4-5 days now. Please join us in praying for healing around here. I honestly cannot imagine not going "home for Christmas!" We MUST get well quick! Only 2 days to go!!!!

Cousin's Christmas and a little taste of Winter...

Another FUN family tradition...each Christmas season, we try to take a little trip to see the Penland cousins and enjoy the exciting area where they live. We got to see their beautiful, new home and see lots and lots of Christmas decorations and lights. It was such fun to see the Christmas show playing nearby, too! And this year~~~we even got to see some SNOW!

Mimi and Granddaddy and the Fabulous Five!

Mimi and the two "babies"
Of course, you all know Mimi...She had some super fun crafts to do while we stayed in Uncle Matt Matt's cabin. You love sleepovers together in the mountain cabin. You had fun making gingerbread houses this trip. It was quite a mess but the three older ones took it very seriously while the two younger ones loved eating some "gum" as Adelynn calls all candy. I LOVE these two shots where you can see your sweet Mimi's hands as she guides you through making the projects she dreams up. I just pray you all get an ounce of her creativity! Those precious hands have made many, many crafty items for you five, your parents and tons of other, too!

What a mess! Can't you just see the fun you had, Baby A?

And, here is what you left for Mommy to clean up...

For one of the best parts of the trip...we woke up to snow in the cabin!

And, someone hit Mommy in the rear area with a snowball...

wonder who?~~~

Little bit was quite unsure of putting her hands in the cold snow but you two older girls tried real hard without success!

A Little More Christmas...

Each year on Thanksgiving night, we begin our Christmas traditions. Mimi always has a stash of goodies for her little girls that jump starts the season. Usually some really precious clothes, Christmas pjs and more. This year was no exception...the outfits adorable, even doll Holiday clothes too, and a special snowball made out of soap with a prize Mimi hid inside. You were all excited to use your soaps so you could find the treasure inside. Ailee, you were smart enough to leave it under the running water while you showered so it would get soft enough to break!! You were the first to find one of the hidden silver half-dollars that belonged to your Great-Pappaw Penland. Wow! Then, ya'll decorate the basement tree with all the ornaments from your mommy and uncle matt matt's past. You think this is a really special treat! Mimi and Granddaddy's Fabulous Five Granddaughters! I just LOVE those curls! (this picture is a little scary how much you look like me when I was a little girl, Ailee)

At a mall nearby, they always start the Christmas Season with a couple of reindeer pulling Santa's sleigh into the mall so that Santa can set up shop for the remainder of the year. He came rushing in on the sleigh and you girls thought it was super cool. You even were the first to get to sit on the sleigh with the reindeer, which Adelynn totally disliked, by the way! Loves Santa, Hates Reindeer! Go figure!

Lots more Santa to come! Three more Santa visits this year!